Established as Delhi Polytechnic in 1941, the technical school was created to cater to the demands of Indian industries. At that time the Delhi Polytechnic offered courses in Arts, Architecture, Commerce, Engineering, Applied Science and Textiles. The National Diploma awarded by the Delhi Polytechnic was considered equivalent to B.E. Degree by the thenUPSC.

In 1962, after the administration of Delhi Polytechnic was taken over from Ministry of Education, India, to Delhi State, it was renamed as "Delhi College of Engineering" in 1965. Thence various departments offering courses in different disciplines separated to form institutes addressing specific areas. The Department of Arts became College of Arts and the Department of Commerce and Business Administration further divided into several institutes of Commerce and Secretarial Practices.

In July 2009 DCE was upgraded to a state university and renamed Delhi Technological University, through the Delhi Technological University Bill, 2009. P. B. Sharma was nominated as the university's first Vice Chancellor.